The great introduction of the Zulu warriors, Zulu spear and shields
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Before the 18th Century Nguni people were all over the kwaZulu Natal area and they needed to have an army that will protect the tribe from attacks. The Fascinating Story of the Zulu Warrior & Shaka kaSenzangakhona
A group of boys
were grouped together from the age of puberty; the group consists of about 50 to
60 boys these boys were placed under the attention of an older boy to be their
leader. In this stage the boys are taught how to throw a spear, hunt and fight.
Enquthu
in
kwazulunatal
Training of warriors
Formal training was not in use until King Shaka Zulu took over the Mthetwa army and revolutionized the Zulu weapons. Before this era the army was only trained to throw spears, stab and shield. Ethukela kwazulunatal
Zulu warrior shield
The Zulu shield has many names describing the different types they have, but the most common one used is the war shieldiSiviko . Uthungulu in kwazulunatal
The war shield
ought to be tall to cover the owners body it is an oval shape strong and tough
that no spear could penetrate through.
Kwazulu
Natal Msinga
The problem with this shield was that it couldn't protect the Zulu warriors against the white men's gun or dynamites.
It was made out of cow or goat skin, but very efficient when fighting with other Zulu tribes because the other tries were also using the same shields and spear to protect themselves. Mthonjaneni Kwazulunatal
The war shield that has been used in Zulu battles for years changed when Shaka Zulu introduced a larger and heavier shield. Abaqulusi Zulunatal
The new shield that Shaka Zulu introduced was made of cowhide and taught each warrior to use the shields left side to hook the enemies shield to the right, exposing his ribs for a clear spear stab. Zulu wooden trays
No shield was allowed to fall into the hands of the enemy because before the war, shields were taken to the armies Inyanga (doctor) to strengthen the owner. Zulu clay flower pots
Zulu weapons used in war
Long handled spear to throw at the enemy
An oval shield made of cowhide
Stick in addition
Shaka Zulu changes the warrior spear
The time Shaka Zulu was made the leader of the warriors in the Mthetwa army he introduced new weapons to the warriors.
Assegai a short stabbing spear makes the warrior to get closer than ever to the enemy,
"This shows that you are not a coward when you go closer to your enemy" King Shaka Zulu said
Since that time the Zulu warriors life was never the same because many warriors died as a result of change of spear and shield, there were more training sessions than before.
The Zulu warriors
used to wear leather sandals; he burned those making them to walk bare foot in
order to toughen their feet.
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